DED Dirt Ride 2014 - Day 4 (Wind Cave National Park to Edgemont)

Over five hot days in August of 2014, Shaun Arritola, Rob Sorge and I rode the DED Dirt Ride, a 310 mile bicycle route from Deadwood to Edgemont to Deadwood via the 111 mile single track Centennial Trail, the 109 mile rails-to-trails Mickelson Trail, and primarily gravel road connectors. For 8-10 hours each day, we pedaled, pushed and carried our bikes, on about every type of surface, along the length and breadth of the Black Hills. Spent at the end of each day, we recovered hard by campsite and arose to ride another day. We rode with more gumption than preparation. But we rode. 

I documented this ride through a series of seven FaceBook photo albums, which is not a great platform for narrative or for preservation. So, I plan to reproduce those seven photo albums here in a series of posts, each with an added, rediscovered picture and an introductory note. Here are links to my prior posts in this series. DED Dirt Ride 2014 - Prologue; Day 1 - Centennial Trail; Day 2 - Centennial Trail; Day 3 - Centennial Trail.

As I'm beginning to build the gear, experience and mindset to consider longer bikepacking rides, I'm astonished to realize that five years have passed since this DED Dirt Ride. I am determined to bikepack more the next five years than the last. 

Feeling the need for speed, Rob and Shaun stretch their legs on prairie gravel en route to Edgemont on Day 4.

Day 4 of the 2014 DED Dirt Ride. After three days riding the Centennial Trail, we were more than ready for some gravel and started on one of my favorite gravel roads anywhere:  NPS 5 running from the northern boundary of Wind Cave National Park through prime buffalo country to a 360 degree ridge line view of forest and prairie. We drop from the edge of the Black Hills and spin south into the heat and wind of the exposed, rolling hills of the open prairie, giddy with our higher speeds. Abruptly, we turn west toward Edgemont to face a dark, menacing thunderstorm, which soon pummels us with horizontal rain. Nothing comes easily on this ride and we work through another long day. As we coast into the Edgemont city campground, skies clear and spirits soar. It's looking like we might actually complete this thing.

A gravel grinder's delight! Meandering through herds of bellicose buffalo and a pair of prancing pronghorns in Wind Cave National Park, dropping into the newly expanded Buffalo Gap Trading Post, spinning past wind-swept prairie ranches and cemeteries sprinkled throughout Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, and enduring horizontal rain from an ill-tempered flash thunderstorm, we gratefully coast into the railroad town of Edgemont. It's Saturday night, which around here means it's time for a shower.

Switching to our gravel/cyclocross bikes, we're eager to spin a short pavement warm-up for an all day gravel ride out and into the surrounding prairie. — with Rob Sorge and Shaun Arritola at Wind Cave National Park.

Not yet to gravel, we roust a recalcitrant buffalo off the road as  Rob documents the event from Texas. 
Much more of this ahead. — at Wind Cave National Park.

Into the open prairie. Off to our right, two pronghorn antelope track us to see what all the fuss was about.
— with Rob Sorge at Wind Cave National Park.

After nudging a handful of buffalo off the gravel, we slip by a herd of a hundred or so to a raucous chorus of deep-throated growls.  Rob didn't slow down for this picture. — with Rob Sorge at Wind Cave National Park.

Although they appear here only as white dots on the horizon, we enjoyed the company of a pair of pronghorn antelope, as they trotted beside us for several hundred yards before scooting across the gravel in front of us.
— with Rob Sorge at Wind Cave National Park.

There's always one more. He took more work, before deciding to allow us to pass.  
Rob discreetly drops back, I'm sure for a better camera angle. — with Rob Sorge at Wind Cave National Park.

Just beyond the reach of the buffalo's horns, we encounter a metal cowboy lassoing a fire-breathing dragon. 
Not yard art you see everyday, unless you're out riding prairie gravel.
 — with Shaun Arritola and Rob Sorge in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.

"Hey, these are my people," exalts Shaun, as we marvel at the collection of stuff at the Buffalo Gap Trading Post. Some of it is even for sale. — with Shaun Arritola in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.

With the Black Hills sliding off the horizon, Rob navigates a dirt road that turns to sand.
— with Rob Sorge in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.

Even as the clouds begin to gather, there's no shade on Shaun's spirit.
— with Shaun Arritola in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.

Spinning south for many carefree, sunny miles, we turn west into this angry beast.
— with Rob Sorge in Angostura Lake.

Nothing quite like a flat while the skies darken, the winds awaken, and the temperatures drop.
Just as we're turning pedals again, a second flat strikes, along with some horizontal rain.
We get a little wet. — with Rob Sorge and Shaun Arritola in Angostura Lake.

Out playing with my friend. — in Edgemont, South Dakota.

DED Dirt Ride 2014 - Day 3 (Sheridan Lake to Wind Cave National Park)

Over five hot days in August of 2014, Shaun Arritola, Rob Sorge and I rode the DED Dirt Ride, a 310 mile bicycle route from Deadwood to Edgemont to Deadwood via the 111 mile single track Centennial Trail, the 109 mile rails-to-trails Mickelson Trail, and primarily gravel road connectors. For 8-10 hours each day, we pedaled, pushed and carried our bikes, on about every type of surface, along the length and breadth of the Black Hills. Spent at the end of each day, we recovered hard by campsite and arose to ride another day. We rode with more gumption than preparation. But we rode. 

I documented this ride through a series of seven FaceBook photo albums, which is not a great platform for narrative or for preservation. So, I plan to reproduce those seven photo albums here in a series of posts, each with an added, rediscovered picture and an introductory note. Here are links to my prior posts in this series. DED Dirt Rice 2014 - Prologue; Day 1 - Centennial Trail; Day 2 - Centennial Trail.

As I'm beginning to build the gear, experience and mindset to consider longer bikepacking rides, I'm astonished to realize that five years have passed since this DED Dirt Ride. I am determined to bikepack more the next five years than the last. 

Cut-off helmets must have axed this picture before, but it's the only one I found with all three of us at the start of Day 3.
We're ready for another day of Centennial Trail single track. This one gets gnarly in Custer State Park.

Day 3 of the 2014 DED Dirt Ride. Again, we awake refreshed after a relaxing evening at our campsite. With Shaun's Jeep shuttled to the end of the Centennial Trail, we leave his toy hauler at Sheridan Lake for a second night there. Today we face another 30+ miles of single track Centennial Trail, with a by-pass of more tree downfall and a wilderness area. Then, just south of Legion Lake, the Centennial Trail transforms into a series of rock-stuffed steeps that are difficult just to walk. Once past the French Creek Horse Camp, however, the route and our spirits improve. At the end of another long, hot day, we reach the boundary of Wind Cave National Park, marking the end of single track and the beginning of gravel. That was a hard three days covering the length the Centennial Trail. We're ready. Boy, are we ready.


Dawn of Day 3 delivers a transitional day from the granite spiked, thickly forested heart of the Hills to the ragged edge of the emerging prairie, with a route that offers a bit of everything: a gravel climb warm-up, a paved by-pass around the Black Elk Wilderness Area, smooth single track sandwiched between brutal hike-a-bike steeps, knee deep creek crossings and the longest, nastiest gravel uphill this side of Odin's Revenge. We finish the day where the Centennial Trail enters Wind Cave National Park, where bikes must travel on the roads. That was just fine. We're ready for some open gravel.

After a pleasant gravel and paved road warm-up, we hit some Centennial Trail reality south of Legion Lake.
— at Legion Lake.

With the punishing climb behind, Shaun joyfully rails the ridge line single track.
— with Shaun Arritola at Legion Lake.

The gorgeous ridge line single track abruptly dumps us onto an eroded rock fall someone must have mischievously marked as the Centennial Trail. As Rob cheerfully reminds us, "It's what we're here for."
— with Rob Sorge at Legion Lake.

Yes, that's the Centennial Trail somewhere south of Legion Lake in Custer State Park. — at Legion Lake.

It wasn't pretty, but the riders and their mounts survive. — with Rob Sorge at Legion Lake.

Undeterred by a few rocks, Shaun patiently waits to see what's ahead on the Centennial Trail.
— with Shaun Arritola at Legion Lake.

Relieved to be rid of the chute of ankle-breaking rocks, we follow the 89 signs that now approach French Creek. — with Shaun Arritola and Rob Sorge at Legion Lake.

Not long after dropping to the creek bed level, we begin a series of crossings of French Creek.
Here's Rob in his element. — with Rob Sorge at French Creek, Custer State Park.

Shaun happily cools his dogs. Seems like he's always happily doing something. We're just happy there's some moving water involved. — with Shaun Arritola at French Creek, Custer State Park.

Not exactly cyclocross form, but the cold water sure feels good. — at French Creek, Custer State Park.

In search of our next water source, Rob finds his rhythm on a very long, increasingly steep gravel climb 
out of the French Creek drainage. — with Rob Sorge at French Creek Horse Camp, Custer State Park.

Shuttling back to camp, we turn our attention to recovery drinks, food, rest and tomorrow's weather.
Another stellar day on the DED Dirt Ride.— at Custer State Park.

DED Dirt Ride 2014 - Day 2 (Dalton Lake to Sheridan Lake)

Over five hot days in August of 2014, Shaun Arritola, Rob Sorge and I rode the DED Dirt Ride, a 310 mile bicycle route from Deadwood to Edgemont to Deadwood via the 111 mile single track Centennial Trail, the 109 mile rails-to-trails Mickelson Trail, and primarily gravel road connectors. For 8-10 hours each day, we pedaled, pushed and carried our bikes, on about every type of surface, along the length and breadth of the Black Hills. Spent at the end of each day, we recovered hard by campsite and arose to ride another day. We rode with more gumption than preparation. But we rode. 

I documented this ride through a series of seven FaceBook photo albums, which is not a great platform for narrative or for preservation. So, I plan to reproduce those seven photo albums here in a series of posts, each with an added, rediscovered picture and an introductory note. Here are links to my prior posts in this series. DED Dirt Ride 2014 - Prologue; Day 1 - Centennial Trail.

As I'm beginning to build the gear, experience and mindset to consider longer bikepacking rides, I'm astonished to realize that five years have passed since this DED Dirt Ride. I am determined to bikepack more the next five years than the last. 

After a gritty finish of a long Day 1, Rob recovered hard and found single track joy early on Day 2.

Day 2 of the 2014 DED Dirt Ride. Early morning after a long, hard first day in the saddle, I am amazed how we all recover. Over hot breakfast, we prepare for another 30+ miles of Black Hills single track, with some probable by-passes due to the mammoth Atlas snow storm the prior winter. Some early miles today are open to motorized ATVs, which really tear up the trail, and we are forced to hike-a-bike some of the steeps. But south of Pilot's Knob to Pactola is flowy, buttery sweetness. A short bypass on some surprisingly fun gravel and a series of creek crossings plop us at Sheridan Lake for the night. We drive Shaun's Jeep back to Dalton Lake to retrieve his toy hauler containing our camping gear and then stop by the Sugar Shack to inhale massive burgers and fries. Another long, hot day on the trails, with a couple of mechanicals and re-routes, leaves us tired but content. The evening at the campsite passes too quickly.


After a restful night at the idyllic Dalton Lake campsite, we're ready for a full day of classic Black Hills single track, starting with a steep hike-a-bike climb out of Dalton Lake, a swift descent into the village of Nemo, then relentless up-and-down to Pilot's Knob with the burger-tastic Sugar Shack, before flowing through miles of smiles on sweet single track down to Pactola Reservoir, and finishing with a final push through more creek crossings to Sheridan Lake. Now, that's some Black Hills single track!

As the sun peeks over the horizon, the truck's buttoned up and we're ready to roll.
— with Rob Sorge and Shaun Arritola.

Shaun preparing to power down the trail, after powering down his phone.
— with Shaun Arritolaat Dalton Lake, South Dakota.

Hey! The trail's down here! Uhmm, where's my bike? — at Dalton Lake, South Dakota.

Yeah. We got this. — with Rob Sorge and Shaun Arritola at Dalton Lake.

Riding at speed through all that rough stuff results in a little trail side maintenance at Nemo:
two whiny brakes, a loosened hub and a flat tire. Nothing these shade tree mechanics can't handle.
— with Rob Sorge and Shaun Arritola in Nemo, South Dakota.

Now we're talking! A welcomed respite from the rocky steeps behind us. — in Nemo, South Dakota.

Flow like water. — in Nemo, South Dakota.

Miles of smiles. Enjoying the view of Pactola. — with Shaun Arritola at Pactola Reservoir.

Bypassing some Atlas storm damage, we discovered a nifty dirt road between Pactola and Sheridan that revealed some rolling prairie in the heart of the Black Hills. — with Rob Sorge and Shaun Arritola at Sheridan Lake.

Shaun demonstrating proper flat repair technique. When I didn't get it the first time,
he had to show me again for the second flat. — with Shaun Arritola at Sheridan Lake.

Nice way to end the day. — at Sheridan Lake.

Not so fast. We still have a few creek crossings to go. We stay dry, at least for this one.
— with Rob Sorge at Sheridan Lake.